Category Archives: Faith & Finances

God Is Opening My Eyes to the Truth — Elisante's Testimony

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by Elisante, BSN student, from Tanzania

I first heard of Bible School for the Nations from Joshua S., (BSN leader in Australia) and a team he led to Tanzania in March 2008. I translated for them when they ran a BELT seminar in Arusha. I liked the teachings, as they were deeply based on what the Bible said. They helped us dig into the Bible and showed unity in the old and new testaments.

I was excited!

I had been staffing DTS in YWAM Tanzania and pastoring a church. I taught the word of God to youth in churches and  conferences and taught Bible classes in schools. I also translated for several speakers as they taught from the Bible, mainly from English to Swahili. But I wanted to get more knowledge of the Word of God. There were questions that I couldn't find answers to. I wanted to know about the law, if Adam and Eve had any choice, or if they were just going to sin anyway, and so many more.

As I prayed more about it, I knew I needed the BSN to give me more time to study, understand, and apply God's Word. I applied for BSN Australia twice, but could not get there because of visas. I also tried to go to Nepal and Norway, but couldn't get through because of visas and financial difficulties. I then applied to come to Madison!

Getting to the States was not easy. I needed so many documents to show the embassy that I am a “good” person and that I would return to Tanzania after BSN. Once I had all of the documents together, I thought I would apply for just myself. Bringing my wife and two young kids would be so expensive. Besides, the people at the embassy told me that it would be impossible for me to get the short term visa with my family.

When I told this to Manuel (BSN leader in Madison), he explained from God's perspective the importance of bringing my family. Still, I applied for just myself.

When that application was also denied, I applied with my family. One week before the school began, we were all granted visas to USA!

My family had visas, but no money to purchase tickets. People all over the world prayed for us and some gave gifts of money so we could come. And here we are. God is so good, Bwana Asifiwe!

To be in the BSN and learn has been the greatest experience ever! God is giving me a lot of understanding of His word and His plan for mankind. He's showing me that He  wants the Bible to be understood. He is opening my eyes to the truth.

I want to go back to Africa after my BSN and serve the Lord, teaching the truth in the church. I also want to translate the BSN teaching in Swahili, work with the BELT team in the Congo, and maybe even bring the BSN to Africa. In anything I do, I want to see  people, pastors, and ministers of the word have a deeper understanding of the Bible. I want to share to other people the truth that is setting me free, that way we may also disciple the Nations.

Many people I know in Africa have limited understanding of the word of God. They love God, they are in the Church, but they don't know God. I want to play my part, even though it's a small part, to make God know. I started that by going to the Congo for out BSN outreach in January!

* Read Elisante's story from the Congo: Is there hope for the Congo?.

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Caroling for a Cause

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by Abigail H., DTS student

“You do the possible and God will do the impossible” is a handy little phrase we learned during our first phase here at DTS, and it’s something that I imagine I’ll practice a lot in life!

As outreach was approaching fast, my India team took a time together to pray regarding our finances. Each of us asked God what we could do over Christmas break to help raise some final funds. I still needed a couple hundred dollars for my travel expenses. I had raised a lot of support through family and friends and I wasn’t sure if I could raise anymore.

But God always has much better plans and ideas than I do!

While we prayed, I kept thinking of the phrase “Caroling for a Cause.” I just knew it was from God because I would never, on my own accord, want to go door to door asking for money. But I knew I had to.

Back home on Christmas break, I gathered a few of my lovely friends to help me sing. I typed up a flyer that said what we were going to do in India and Nepal, and I bundled up to head out into the cold, dark night.

One hour and twenty houses later, our toes were numb and our voices were gone. Finally in the warmth of my home, my friends and I counted the money people had stuck in our donation box.

It totaled $250! God really provided the last bit of money to fund my trip!

It was an incredible experience–I did the possible of going out and talking about my trip with strangers and God moved on their hearts to give, and that’s how He provided!

Thank you God!

Kenzie’s Story: My Own Impossible Miracle

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by Kenzie K., DTS student

Kenzie - YWAM DTS student

Kenzie - YWAM DTS student

A couple weeks before Christmas break, I was praying about my India / Nepal outreach. I needed a couple thousand dollars in donations, but nothing was coming in. I had tried fundraisers and seen God provide for my classmates and staff, but I was out of ideas.

That night I had a dream that a complete stranger in the airport was going to give me some money. After I woke up, I daydreamed about what it would look like if that actually happened. The next night, same dream: a stranger in the airport.

Only a few days before break, we got together in our teams to pray about things we could do while we were home to raise more support as many of us still needed money.

“I’m going to talk to my Church,” one to my right said.
“I have someone I can talk to,” said another.
“A name was on my heart so I’m going to find that person.”

And my turn,” Uh..I think something is going to happen at the airport…?”

The day finally came — 25 hours of traveling to get home for the holidays.

Absolutely nothing happened.

I was honestly disappointed. I didn’t want to worry about money the whole break, and I had gotten no other ideas. While I was on break, some people made donations, $20 here, $10 there. But I still needed a great amount.

The day came to leave home, and I learned that I had a much shorter travel day ahead of me. I was nervous. Not much time for something to happen.

My first flight, nothing. Only minutes to run to my next plane, no time to talk to potentially giving strangers.

On my second flight, there was about 40 minutes left before landing, and nothing happened. The girl sitting next to me on that flight was a Christian and going to a missionary school in Washington, but with no means of financially supporting me.

I glanced around the plane. “All right God, who do I need to talk to? What do I need to do?”

No answers came. Nothing happened.

I decided I would just take out my message that I had been preparing for outreach and work on it some more. I was flipping through pages when I felt someone watching me. I looked up — it was the flight attendant.

“What are you working on?” she asked.

I explained my message, YWAM, and what I would do on outreach in India and Nepal.

To my surprise, she poured on compliments and encouragements! I couldn’t stop smiling, I knew God was fulfilling my prayers.

“I have some workbooks that would be perfect for you to write more of your sermons,” she said. “I even have some with me today that you can keep. I’ll just get some new ones later.”

I was beaming. But it wasn’t over!
Right before the plane landed, she walked by. “Here’s a little something for your trip,” she said, handing me a check.

Without looking, I pocketed the check and waited until I was on my way to baggage claim to take it out again.

I pulled the check from my pocket and had to look at the amount a few times.

$200.

$200!? From this complete stranger!?

God had fulfilled my dream.

When I first got to YWAM, we read all these books about these crazy miracles happening to people. Fun to read, but not anything I ever thought could happen to me. And here I am, three months later, living in these “impossible” miracles. Go God!

Editor’s Note: The day before Kenzie left for India and Nepal, an anonymous donor paid for the rest of her fees for outreach! Kenzie writes, “My mind is blown and I can’t stop crying. Told ya God is bigger than a number! :D ”

Getting Ready for DTS

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by Lo, Children at Risk DTS student, right before she joined us. After DTS, Lo decided to join staff with YWAM Madison.

Lo, YWAM Madison Children at Risk DTS student

Lo, YWAM Madison Children at Risk DTS student

I leave for DTS in 9 days.

I'm sitting here trying to pack and its proving most difficult. I feel like I'm going off to war, like I'm going to die. But I think I'm just scared because I know that this is just the beginning. From here everything changes. I change.

God has been leading me towards this for so long. I'm excited and I will always follow Him anywhere. But I know I'm n

ot going to come back the same person. He's going to change me, transform me in ways that I can't even imagine!

And it may sound weird, but that scares me — I won't have the choice to sit around and not do anything anymore.

Meeting the plan God has for me is going to be the most thrilling experience of my life, and I'm terrified. But I know that God holds me through everything, he is my strength and I know I can do this with Him. It's all I've ever wanted!

So please be in prayer right now and the next week. Pray that my fears will wash away and I will find comfort in the fact that this is what I was made for. Pray that God would continue to remind me I don't need to worry or be afraid of missing my family and friends. He is with them always, too.

A song that has continued to hold me over this week and continues to remind me why i am doing this is Albertine by Brooke Fraser: Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.

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Ben's Provision Story

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by Ben, Children at Risk DTS student 2011

This is Ben. God provided for him to attend the Children at Risk DTS in 2011.

This is Ben. God provided for him to attend the Children at Risk DTS in 2011!

I am still amazed with how God provided for me to attend the 2011 Children at Risk DTS!

I really didn't know how to star

t fundraising without feeling awkward. The only thing I did was send out support letters, which was awkward in itself. It was hard trying to figure out what to write and who to send my letter to. Then after sending off about 50 letters and joking with people that I felt more conceited than ever by sending out 50 letters about myself, I waited to see what would happen.

I think the first week about $75 came in, maybe less. I was already thankful for that much and felt pretty good. I was amazed to watch the mail come in over the next month and a half. My whole tuition for the lecture phase ($3250) and little extra was provided!

The only way it happened can be summed up in this name: GOD!

Remember that God is working on your behalf. I hope my story encourages you as you're raising funds for DTS or outreach!

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4 Easy and Affordable Ways to Support Missions

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We often hear from people that they would like to be able to do more for missions. So we thought we’d share some ideas with you that would really make a worldwide impact…without making much of an impact on your wallet.

Donate Items for our Memorial Day Yard Sale – donate by May 22

yard sale

YWAM Madison is holding a yard sale this Memorial Day weekend. We’re looking for donations of gently used items — furniture, clothes, small or large appliances, tools, toys, etc — to sell at our yard sale. We’ll even give you tax-deductible receipts!

Contact James at ywam@ywammadison.org to coordinate donations, or give them to a YWAMer at your Madison-area church.

Score some bargains at the Memorial Day Yard Sale – May 28-30

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Come by our Global Mission Center at 4802 Dakota Dr. Madison, WI 53704. Our sale will go strong rain or shine from 8am – 4pm on Saturday, May 28 – Monday, May 30.

Proceeds from the sale will go toward purchasing a NEW OVEN for our Training & Retreat Center. (We’ll be cooking for 40+ people this fall in our Discipleship Training School.)

If you have any questions, call our office at 608-255-0500 and ask for James.

Volunteer

volunteer-lawn-mowerThis summer, dozens of teens and young adults are being sent out all over the world to spread God’s love. Did you know that to make these outreaches a success, we need help with the basic, everyday things? So if you’ve got a skill and a couple hours a week, you can help!

We’re looking for people to mow, weed, cook, paint, landscape, or help with construction and remodeling projects at our Training & Retreat center (tile work, painting).

In Kind Donations

vacuumJust like your home, missionary training centers and offices need household items like vacuum cleaners, decorations, and lawn mowers in good, working condition.

To transport our 30+ students to local outreach, and to use for other events, we’re looking for 12 passenger vans and other vehicles that are affordable to operate.

Of course you can also give the good ol’ fashioned way — with cash or credit card on PayPal. 

Do you have any other ideas for affordable ways to support missions? Leave them in our comment section or on our Facebook page.

 

Does God Want Me to Go to Thailand?

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by Clara, DTS student from Sweden

It was the night of the Christmas party, one day before lecture phase was done. I was feeling extra down.

Not only did I have to leave this wonderful place, but I had no money for my plane ticket for our outreach to Thailand. I needed nearly $2000.

DTS Student, Clara from Sweden, tells her "faith and finances" story

During the whole Christmas meal, I felt scared.

“I don’t have the money to pay for this outreach,” I worried. “Oh no, maybe God doesn’t want me to go!”

But later that night we had an offering. Each of us (students and staff) asked God if we should give to someone else–even if we needed money ourselves. One of my friends gave me a book. Another walked across the room and gave me a hug. And then she whispered in my ear that she was also giving me money to pay for outreach.

By the end of the evening, I was so amazed when I saw God provided for me through my friends: $1700!

God really wants me to go to Thailand! Hallelujah!

Greg’s Surprise Provision

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by Greg, YWAM Madison missionary

I was on the plane, flying home from one of the most exciting outreaches I had ever been on. We had ministered in a closed nation and I saw God do so many things while we there!  I wanted to stay in that mysterious nation that had so captured my heart.

You see, I was a bit bummed to go back home. I had been so busy with ministry that I didn’t have time to focus on the everyday stress that sometimes comes with “living by faith.” The outreach had been expensive–not only did the flight to the other side of the word take a chunk out of my bank account, but as a foreigner, I also had to pay a daily fee to be in the country. Just a week of those fees would have paid my monthly rent back home several times.

Before I left, God had provided most of the money I needed through gifts from friends. But I wondered how I would pay off the little bit of outreach that I still had on my credit card. On top of that, I had to pay for next month’s rent and other bills right away. Of course I know that God provides for us when He asks us to do something, but it can be difficult to really trust him, to not feel the stress of counting every penny.

After the plane landed and I made it back home, I saw a stack of mail waiting for me on my desk. It included a weekly financial statement with the latest donations that came in for me. I took a look at the total and was stunned! A new friend of mine had sent in a $1000 while I was away. It was enough to pay all my bills!

The stress I felt on the plane ride home was immediately gone. As I was doing what God asked me to do on the other side of the world, He had provided for my needs!

The Unexpected Gift

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by Jen, former YWAM Madison staff

Jen YWAM missionary

Jen - YWAM missionary

“Here, this is for you!” exclaimed the DTS student as she lovingly handed me her most prized possession.

Coming from an Amish background, I’ve never been one for technology or getting the latest thing. When email first came out I thought that it was ridiculous and I would never need it. Then laptops came out and I wasn’t about to jump on that bandwagon just for the sake of being like everyone else!

But the more I’ve gotten involved in mission work the more I’ve grown to see the need for technology as a necessary, not frivolous, thing. So, for three or four years I prayed for a laptop, putting that request in newsletters and telling people about my need. Unfortunately, there was no laptop on the horizon and I definitely wasn’t able to afford one.

One night would change my life forever! I was on staff with the Children at Risk DTS and we were having a Christmas party. But this was not your typical Christmas party! Instead of buying gifts for each other, we were going to ask God what to give each other — and it had to be something we already owned.

I struggled as I thought about whether to give away my precious shoes that I had just gotten on an outreach to China. I wanted it to be a sacrifice but souvenirs are not easy for me to part with because of their sentimental value.

Amidst the students and staff, there was an explosion of giving — a favorite sweatshirt, some jewelry, a hat and some cash. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. One of the students felt like God was telling her to give a large item, an expensive one that was precious to her–her new Macbook. Surprised, she talked to a classmate for confirmation without telling her the item she was thinking about. Her friend looked at her and said, “I think that God is saying to give your laptop to Jen!”

With the confirmation she needed, this obedient student headed towards me and handed over her laptop! My jawed dropped as I asked her again and again if she was sure about this gift! I was in shock and so moved, almost to the point of tears! We hugged as I took the computer that was a huge answer to prayer. The amazing thing is that I don’t remember ever sharing this need with the class. But God knew my need.

Faith & finances - Jen & laptop

Jen and her shiny red laptop!

The laptop has been a huge blessing to me. I’ve been able to keep in better contact with family and friends, do Power Point (Keynote) presentations, work from anywhere, put together amazing newsletters and much more! I’m so grateful for this unexpected way that God provided for me.

And every time I use my shiny red laptop I think about God’s goodness to me and one of the best Christmas presents ever!

Lucy’s Story

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Lucy

Lucy in China

I’m fairly new to the missions field and living life as a missionary. I did a DTS and Bible School for the Nations over the last two years and I knew that God was calling me to missions beyond that. But the thought of fund raising & asking people to support me financially was so intimidating!

I’m still in the process of raising a support team, and through that process, God has been speaking to me about a couple of things.

First is the importance of my relationships with other people. It’s not about asking people for money. It’s about explaining the ministry God is doing through me. It’s a lot easier to talk about what I’m doing when I have the confidence God is calling me to this. Plus it’s easy for others to get excited about what I’m doing when they see my own excitement and enthusiasm.

The other thing God has spoken to me is that He provides in numerous ways–not just with money. One story that comes to mind happened pretty recently. I had just been accepted as staff and sent out a newsletter telling about what I was doing and encouraging my friends to partner with me. I also included prayer requests — and one of the requests was for a mechanic who could service my car.

Two days after I mailed the letter, a friend of a friend called me. “I’m a mechanic,” he said. “Do you need any help fixing your car?”

I was excited to see God provide for me so quickly and specifically!

I know I will see God provide in so many other ways as I continue serving Him in missions. It really is an adventure that brings us closer to Him.